Part 33 (1/2)
”Now, wouldn't that jar you!” exclaimed Shep, as they turned toward Firefly Lake. ”Did you ever hear of such meanness?”
”He's as bad as he was last summer, when he drove us away from Lake Cameron,” said Snap, bitterly.
For some time after that the young hunters were silent, each busy with his own thoughts. Driven away from the vicinity of Lake Cameron, they had to make another wide detour, and it was one o'clock before they came in sight of Firefly Lake, nestling so cozily among the hills.
”It will take at least an hour and a half to get down to the lake and up to camp,” said Snap. ”Shall we go on or stop for dinner?”
”I am as hungry as two bears,” said Whopper. ”Let us rest up a bit and get something to eat.”
The others were willing, and soon a fire was blazing and over this they broiled one of the wild ducks. The meal and the rest occupied an hour and a half, but they all felt it was time well spent.
Their hearts beat rapidly as they walked down the hill to the edge of the lake. They had to pa.s.s a bend and then came in sight of the camp.
”The flag is down!” cried Giant, in some disappointment.
”I reckon the blizzard was too much for it,” answered Snap. ”But let that go, so long as the shelter itself is all right.”
They almost broke into a run on the last quarter mile, so eager were they to see the condition of things. At last they caught sight of Birch Tree Inn. It looked to be exactly as they had left it.
”Thank fortune for that,” began Shep, when Whopper uttered a cry.
”I really believe the doorway is open!”
The barrier to the doorway was certainly gone, and with hearts that fairly thumped in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s they ran for the shelter, to learn what this meant. All was dark inside and very cold, and with trembling fingers Snap struck a match and looked around for the acetylene bicycle lamp.
”It's gone!” he cried.
”And most of our things are gone too!” gasped Shep.
Then the match went out and they had to light another. A sc.r.a.p of paper was found and some dry sticks, and they kindled a blaze, heaping up the fire so as to get as much light as possible.
”One sled is gone!”
”So are all the cooking utensils!”
”And the extra clothing!”
”And the grub!” wailed Whopper. ”Not a bit of coffee, chocolate, sugar, or anything left!”
”Boys, this is awful!” wailed Giant. ”Who could have done it?”
”Maybe the Ham Spink crowd.”
”Or the Felps crowd.”
”Or that tramp who made trouble for us before,” came from Snap.
Then they made a more careful inspection--to find their skates also missing and--most precious of all--all the extra matches and extra ammunition.